Emirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation (Empower), the world’s largest district cooling services provider, highlighted the importance of the ‘IDEA Campus Energy’ conference 2022, which was held in Boston, USA last week under the theme ‘Leading the Way’. The event witnessed a participation of more than 1,000 delegates from around the world and was organised by the International District Energy Association (IDEA), which includes members representing more than 30 countries.

Hosted by Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the event was rich with in-depth discussions on various ideas and experiences to build new energy facilities in campuses, as Boston is the home of many innovations in district energy systems and the center of many IDEA members operating in different fields such as healthcare, research, airports and other industries.

The conference also touched several themes for improving, expanding, upgrading and renovating the district cooling services, integration of renewable energy sources with district cooling energy, developing strategies to conserve and improve water resources, in addition to other topics that represented a priority for the cooling industry and its stakeholders. As part of its activities, the conference presented working papers that addressed the most prominent changes and developments in the industry, and the future perspectives for the renewable and clean energy.

Ahmad Bin Shafar, CEO of Empower, member of IDEA Board of Directors and Chairman of the Association of District Cooling Operators Dubai, said, “The IDEA Campus Energy conference is an important opportunity to exchange experiences between key players in the district cooling and energy industry from around the world, as it provides direct access to energy professionals on the globe. This year’s agenda was full of in-depth panel discussions on the current and future energy trends and technologies. It also helps shape a more resilient, efficient, and low-carbon future for energy systems in universities, healthcare providers, and research centers, in addition to developing effective strategies to conserve and improve water resources and reimagine their relationship to energy”.

“The event also contributes to ensuring access to new, reliable and sustainable energy for all by shedding light on latest studies on district energy, and best practices in urban infrastructure planning and management”, Bin Shafar concluded.